Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Madam Du remained silent.

Claiming a noble title fraudulently was considered defiance of the hierarchy, a crime punishable by beheading. However, adultery carried a much lighter penalty—only a year and a half of hard labor for both involved parties. This was even less severe than the punishment for forced intercourse, by six months. Anyone with common sense knew which option to choose.

And besides…

—— She was the one cuckolding others; what did she have to fear?

The Marquis of Kuaiji dismissed the astonishment of the court officials.

As long as he could save his life, what did a mere “green hat” matter?

Two hundred years ago, when a foreign regime ruled over the Central Plains, a fractured empire saw the rise of numerous kingdoms. One emperor of a particular dynasty trusted only eunuchs. To become an official in his court, men had to castrate themselves. Yet, despite such humiliation, countless people willingly mutilated themselves to secure a position.

It’s said that at the time, that kingdom gained over twenty thousand eunuchs.

Compared to that, wearing a “green hat” was nothing. As long as he knew the truth, it didn’t matter what others thought.

[“Huh? Was there really such a thing?”]

The student, oblivious to the tangled web behind the drama, scratched his face in confusion.

[“Didn’t the baby-swapping incident happen because the late Marquis of Kuaiji had been delaying appointing a legitimate heir? Wasn’t it due to him being over thirty years old without a son, and the pressure to name his second brother—who had already fathered seven sons—as the heir? That’s why Madam Du had to ensure her child was a boy, right?”]

A peculiar gleam flashed through the Emperor’s eyes.

Panic began to rise in the Marquis of Kuaiji’s heart.

Then, the Emperor broke into a hearty laugh: “Marquis of Kuaiji, ha-ha-ha!”

The Marquis’ face turned ashen.

“I deeply sympathize with your situation.” The Emperor’s attempt at sincerity would have been more convincing if not for the smile still on his face. “If that’s the case, how about I give you a son? You can raise him to take care of you in your old age. How about your second brother’s youngest son? He’s still a child and easy to mold. I’ll appoint him as your heir…”

“NO!!!”

The Marquis’ scream pierced the court, disregarding the setting and his precarious position. His refusal was nearly a shriek of desperation.

The Minister of Public Works, who had been quietly observing, was dumbfounded.

He could hardly believe what he was seeing. At such a critical moment, rather than grovel and feign submission, the Marquis was loudly defying the Emperor’s will.

The Minister of Rites muttered under his breath, “Could it be… has he been driven mad by shock?”

A new voice, filled with excitement, cut in: “What kind of shock? If it’s Xu Yanmiao… could he share the details?”

The Minister of Public Works froze. The voice was disturbingly familiar.

He turned his head, and his heart nearly stopped. “Your Highness! Why are you here?”

The words slipped out before he could stop himself. Realizing his mistake, he clamped his mouth shut, mortified.

Even if the Crown Prince attended court only two or three days every ten days, as a minister, he should never speak so casually.

The Crown Prince smiled leisurely, hands clasped behind his back. “The court has been particularly interesting lately…”

Behind him, three or five frazzled attendants looked as if they were on the verge of tears, clearly desperate to drag him back but too afraid to act.

The Crown Prince seemed utterly unaware of their distress. He leaned between the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Rites, whispering:

“There is no Crown Prince here today. I’m just here to discuss this intriguing case with you all.”

He spoke with unrestrained enthusiasm: “Do you think he resents his brother? Resents him for nearly stealing his position as heir? And that’s why, even after inheriting the title, he refused to kill the fake heir or adopt his nephew as his own?”

The Minister of Public Works hesitated, but the Minister of Rites, drawn in by the gossip, nodded in agreement: “I think that’s exactly the case. Otherwise, why let an illegitimate child claim the heir’s position?”

“Exactly! He doesn’t strike me as the type who’d hesitate to kill.”

The Crown Prince sighed theatrically. “I regret not paying more attention to the Marquis of Kuaiji’s affairs in my youth. Back then, the late Marquis hadn’t even named an heir!”

The Minister of Rites lamented deeply: “Ah, a missed golden opportunity for a juicy scandal!”

The Crown Prince clicked his tongue in sympathy. “When I was stationed in the military, I wasn’t familiar with the late Marquis either…” Then, as if stoking the flames of chaos, he brightened: “But! Xu Yanmiao definitely knows!”

Indeed, Xu Yanmiao knew everything.

Though he had no interest in the Emperor’s motives for pressuring the Marquis of Kuaiji, Xu Yanmiao was here for the drama.

[“Woohoo! He’s losing it! He’s losing it!”]

[“Ohhh! No wonder he’s breaking down—it’s because he’s been overshadowed by his twin brother since childhood!”]

[—— In ancient times, having many children was seen as a blessing. Twins or multiples were considered signs of great fortune, proof of divine favor on the family.]

[—— Moreover, the birth of twins often earned the parents government rewards in rice and silver.]

[“While one studied tirelessly from dawn until late at night, he wasted time worrying about which outfit would make him look like the most refined gentleman.”]

[“While one mastered the Six Arts of a nobleman, enduring harsh winters and scorching summers, he was busy hosting banquets to flatter and elevate his social status.”]

The gossipers couldn’t hold back their whispers:

“He’s gone from pale to green!”

“His chest is heaving—will he collapse from rage?”

“What’s Xu Yanmiao’s phrase again? Break…?”

[“Even in having children, he fell short. The only thing he could claim superiority in was inheriting the title of Marquis because he was born moments before his twin brother.”]

[“Under such circumstances, how could he ever consider adopting his nephew? In his eyes, that was the child of an enemy. Even if the boy called him ‘father’ one day, he wouldn’t want him to inherit the title. That resentment probably extended to all the children of his relatives as well.”]

The court murmured in astonishment:

“Wow!”

“So that’s the truth!”

“Enough!!!” the Marquis of Kuaiji roared.

The Crown Prince clapped his hands in delight. “He’s breaking down! He’s breaking down!”

The Emperor rubbed his temples, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

“Your Majesty,” a eunuch whispered cautiously, “the Crown Prince…”

The Emperor sighed and waved him off. “Let him be.”

Suddenly, the Emperor snapped his head up, his instincts sharp. Xu Yanmiao had found something.

The other officials noticed too, barely restraining their smirks.

While unkind, there was undeniable satisfaction in witnessing the Marquis’ downfall.

The Marquis of Kuaiji was trembling, every inch of his flesh quivering in rage.

[“Woohoo!”] Xu Yanmiao thought gleefully. [“I just remembered something juicy! When skimming old records of gossip, there was a note about ‘someone born with six toes.’ I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now it’s clear!”]

[“The late Marquis, the current Marquis, his two brothers, several nieces and nephews, and even Xie Luoshui—they all have six toes! Only the fake heir’s feet are perfectly normal.”]

[“Polydactyly is an autosomal dominant genetic condition. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, the chances of inheriting it are 50-50. This family has been incredibly consistent in hitting the genetic jackpot!”]@@novelbin@@

The Marquis instinctively glanced at his own feet, his pupils shrinking in shock.

The biggest flaw lay within himself.

The court didn’t understand the scientific terms, but they grasped the gist:

The Wei family was known for having six toes.

Alone, this trait wasn’t definitive proof that Xie Luoshui was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis. But combined with her resemblance to the family and the existence of the basin Madam Du had used, it was enough to convince the world.

It would also dispel suspicions that the Emperor was acting as a tyrant, framing his officials unjustly.

The Emperor decided to take back his earlier complaint about Xu Yanmiao’s “sharp tongue.”

This man was a gem! A model subject who knew how to ease the burden of rulership!

“Wei Jin.” The Emperor didn’t even bother addressing him by title anymore. “The Jinyiwei have already uncovered…”

He proceeded to reveal all the conclusive evidence, just as Xu Yanmiao had pieced together.

Turning to Xie Luoshui, he asked, “Lady Xie, would you consent to step into the side chamber to remove your shoes and socks for verification?”

Xie Luoshui, overwhelmed by the flood of revelations, stood frozen, her mind blank and unable to respond.

The fake heir, however, broke down completely. “Impossible! How could I not be a Wei family member? How could Xie Luoshui be the legitimate daughter of the Marquis? Impossible!”

She was no powerless commoner, left defenseless against his oppression.